AUBURN — Compared to last year, voting on the Auburn school budget continued to be heavy Tuesday afternoon, said City Clerk Susan Clements-Daillaire.

With three hours to go, at 5 p.m., 1,608 people had voted, and 485 absentee ballots had been turned in, Clements-Daillaire said.

That was significantly higher than last year’s total 694 votes on the school budget, and there was still seven hours to go before the polls closed.

When the polls first opened Tuesday morning, “It was a steady line for the first hour,” she said. “I’m surprised with the turnout,” Clements-Daillaire said. “People are coming out to vote. It’s a great thing.”

Despite the rainy weather, during the morning and early afternoon there was a steady flow of voters at the polls, and of people turning in absentee ballots in the city clerk’s office.

Susan Robinson, a retired teacher and homeowner, said she voted yes for the school budget. “I just think they’ve been taking away from the school budget for too many years. We need to meet per pupil costs.”

Dan Rodrigue voted no. “The way the governor’s talking about raising property taxes, it’s just forcing everybody out. I cannot keep affording the taxes. I’ll have to sell my house.”

The proposed budget is $38.37, up $2.4 million, or 6.9 percent.

The polls at Auburn Hall are open until 8 tonight.